Rahul Kumar Velpula (born 26 Jan 1992), known professionally as Roll Rida, is an Indian rapper, songwriter and actor in Telugu films and music.

He became popular with his YouTube rap song on Sankranthi, Patang, was a huge hit with over 17 million views. His other popular songs are Kirana rap, Breaking news Kattif, Shankar Ka Beta, Ivvalane Dilkush, Ignite, Arupu etc. In 2018, he appeared as a contestant for Bigg Boss 2 and successfully reached the 15th week of the show and finished in 6th place.

Early life

Roll Rida was born in Karimnagar, Telangana, India. He did his schooling at Johnson Grammar School in Hyderabad; intermediate at Narayana Junior College, Tarnaka and completed his BTech in computer science from CVR College of Engineering, Hyderabad. He was popular for his singing in school and started a band in college with Syed Kamran.[citation needed]

Career

Roll Rida initially worked at Google, Hyderabad and as Quality Analyst at Tech Mahindra.[citation needed]

He picked his professional name, Roll Rida, upon a friend's suggestion, after popular American rapper, Flo Rida, of Low song fame. He quit his job to pursue his successful singing career in 2017.[citation needed] His rap song ‘Arupu’ with Syed Kamran became popular. He was the first to do a rap song in Telugu language from Telangana State. In 2013, he debuted on Sankranthi with a single, Patang, on YouTube became a huge hit, with over 14 million views. His songs Patang, Kirana song, Dilkush are popular among young listeners. He toured USA in 2015 and 2016 to promote his Telugu rap and Hip Hop songs. Roll Rida was featured on VH1 in 2010.

He worked with Telugu music directors like M. M. Keeravani, S. S. Thaman and Anoop Rubens. He also performed with Divine.[citation needed] He worked as a voice artist for Akhil Akkineni in the film Manam, and Jr. NTR in Temper.[citation needed] He acted in a short film, Hello!, an urban rom com. It was released on YouTube. He was selected for Bigg Boss 2 for his popularity. He stayed in the house till the week before the finale of that season.

Artistry

Roll Rida's rapping is a combination of Hyderabadi Telugu and Deccani slang spoken in Hyderabad old city.

Discography

Singles/Music Videos

YearTrackLyricsArtist
2013PatangRoll RidaRoll Rida
The KiranaRoll RidaRoll Rida
2015DilkushRoll RidaRoll Rida
KattifRoll RidaRoll Rida
IvvalaneRoll RidaRoll Rida
2017Shankar ka BetaRoll RidaRoll Rida
Baitikochi Chuste (RAP Version)Shree ManiRoll Rida & Dan Madhireddy
2018Saava KottethadiRoll RidaRoll Rida
O PillaRoll RidaRoll Rida
KTR Birthday songRoll RidaRoll Rida
ArupuRoll RidaRoll Rida
RaadhuRoll RidaRoll Rida
2020Don't ride rudeRoll RidaRoll Rida
NagaliRoll RidaRoll Rida
2021Allu Arjun Rap SongRoll Rida, The Hyderabad NawabsRoll Rida & Harika Narayan S. Thaman (composer)
Thaggede LeRoll RidaRoll Rida & Praveen Lakkaraju (composer)
ChinnaRoll RidaRoll Rida
2024kakinada KajaRoll Rida & SameeraRoll Rida & Sameera
Fake FriendsRoll Rida & Manoj JulooriRoll Rida
Ready GoRoll RidaRoll Rida
2025Hello ChittammaRoll Rida & SameeraRoll Rida

Film songs

YearWorkSongComposerNotes
2015Bruce LeeChiranjeevi Entry RapThaman
Gopala GopalaPawan Kalyan Intro RapAnup Rubens
2016A Aa"Anasuya Kosam" Rap PiecesMickey J. Meyer
2018Kumari 21F"Lets Party in Bangkok"Mahati Swara Sagar
Husharu"Kaboom", "Bad Boys" (Rap portions)Sunny M.R.
2019Suryakantham"Friday Night Baby" (Rap)Mark K Robin
2020Ala Vaikunthapurramloo"OMG Daddy" Rap PiecesThaman
2021Cinema Bandi"Cinema Teesinam"Varun ReddyAlso lyricist
Veyishubamulukaluginku"Hey Senorita"Gyaani
Anubhavinchu Raja"Kaki Nemali Ke Votu"Gopi Sundar
2022Hero"Donal Daggu"GhibranAlso lyricist
Rowdy Boys"Date Night "Devi Sri PrasadOnly lyricist
"Rowdy Boys Title Song"Also lyricist
Bheemla Nayak"Bheemla Back On Duty"ThamanOnly lyricist
Lucky Lakshman"College Song"Anup Rubens
2023Leo (Dubbed Version)"Ney Ready"Anirudh Ravichander
"Naa Ready"
"Njan Ready"
"Ready Chal"
Waltair Veerayya"Poonakaalu Loading"Devi Sri Prasad
2025War 2"Shaitan"Sanchit and Ankit BalharaHindi film; Also lyricist
Telugu version
Tamil version
Chaurya Paatham"Kanne Kaane"DavzandAlso lyricist
Bakasura Restaurant"Bakasura"Vikas Badisa

Other songs

YearWorkSongComposerNotes
2023Nijam With Smita"Episode 4 Closing Song"Saketh KomanduriTelevision talk show

Filmography

  • 90ML (2019) as Kishore

External links